Author : Francis

From 2009 independent IT trainer and consultant for boating. Translator of several navigation apps on iOS and MacOS. Professional in boating for over 30 years old, I dispense from training to applications as well as advice and assistance for the integration of mobile devices (tablets, smartphones) on board pleasure boats.

Starlink Mini : a stone into the sea [Update-2]

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Since the launch of Starlink in 2020, the hardware and service offerings were particularly versatile (¹). If the first recreational boaters were able to benefit from a navigation service far superior to the official conditions of use, it seemed obvious that this somewhat chaotic launch period would eventually be regularized, and offers stabilized. Despite still a strong disparity in equipment and subscription pricing from one continent to another, or even from one country to another, we are starting to see more clearly.

This is the case for France with the arrival of Starlink Mini. [Update of 11-12 th 2024] Read more …

After El Niño 2023 here is La Niña 2024

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The climatic phenomenon ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) had experienced a new episode El Niño towards the end of spring 2023 in the tropical regions of the Pacific (¹). After reaching a peak between November and December 2023, the phenomenon began to decrease (²). During the second quarter 2024 he returned to a situation called " Neutral ”. But quickly from July a new episode La Niña started, whose climatic consequences are the opposite of the previous episode.

Source : NOAA Climate / ENSO Blog Read more …

Currents and waves at hectometric resolution from Ifremer (Episode 2)

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Episode 2 – Illustrations

Forecasts IFREMER (see Episode 1) available in Weather4D are of two kinds :

    • Current forecasts from the MARS2D model
    • Sea state forecasts (combined currents and waves) based on WW3 model

These files concern areas of the Channel and Atlantic whose coverage and resolutions are significantly different. Read more …

Currents and waves at hectometric resolution from Ifremer (Episode 1)

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Episode 1 – Description

Since 7 May 2024 the latest versions of Weather4D have been enriched with several new weather and ocean models (¹). Among the latter, ultra-high resolution current and wave forecast models from’Ifremer come in addition to Copernicus models (formerly called MyOcean) for the Channel and Atlantic coasts. These forecasts are provided with hectometric grids, can be reduced up to 190 meters for some models. So Ifremer, what is ? Read more …

GRIB files and time zones

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An incomprehensible malfunction occurred recently for a Weather4D user, sailing in a “lost hole” on the edge of the Indian Ocean, namely the Cocos Islands, challenged me to the point of getting lost in conjectures. A GFS file due ten days ago categorically refused to be displayed in the application with the date, damn !

This unfortunate sailor - for which I would like to thank him - forced me to make a determined search for the cause of the problem.. After much procrastination, explorations of settings that may be faulty, since no other user had reported such a problem to us, the light finally came out ! Read more …